I don't know if it helps, but I found this (written around 1930-ish?):
Frank Schwikert, whose name is found on the
roll of Rochester's manufacturers, was Ijorn in
Deekenshiet, near Coblentz, Germany. September
7, 1845. His father, Henry SdnvilMTt. also a
natiye of Dickenschiet near Colili'iiiz. was a cabi-
net-maker by trade. Following the death of his
wife he disposed of his l)usiuess interests in his
natiye country and came to the United States
eighteen years ago. Here he liyed retired until
his death, which occurred about 1891. Mrs.
Schwikert, who bore the maiden name of Eliza
Osmun, spent her entire life in Germany, where
she passed away twenty-six years ago. Of five
children of the family, two are Hying, Frank and
John, the latter of Port Huron, Michigan.
Frank Schwikert acquired his education in the
Catholic schools of his native place and under his
father's direction learned the cabinet-maker's
trade, which pursuit he followed between the ages
of fourteen and nineteen years. The favorable re-
ports which had reached him concerning the op-
portunities and business advantages of the new
world led him to come to the United States on the
steamer Bremen and in 1864 he made the voyage
to New York city. He did not tarry in the eastern
metropolis, however, but went direct to Buffalo,
New York, where he had friends, and later to
Port Huron, Michigan, where he remained two
years. He worked at his trade in the latter place
as an employe of the Mulford Company, wood-
turners and cabinet-makers. He afterward located
at Detroit, where for six months he engaged in
cabinet-making. On the expiration of that period
he accepted a position in a billiard table manu-
factory in Detroit, becoming foreman for the
Smith Billiard Table Company, in which capacity
he served from 1866 until 1872.
In the latter year he located in Rochester, where
he established business as a manufacturer of bil-
liard and pool tables and dealer in billiard sup-
plies, also turning ivory balls and ten pin balls.
The enterprise has now had a continuous existence
of more than a third of a century, which fact alone
is indicative of its success. The patronage has
steadily increased until it has reached large pro-
portions, the house being a foremost one in this
line of manufacture in the middle states. About
twenty-seven years ago tlie jihint was destroyed by
fire, caused by the explosion of a boiler, and Mr.
Schwikert lost everything he had. He has always
made it a point of his business career to never mis-
represent his goods and to fill all orders promptly
and carefully, and as the years have passed he has
maintained an unassailable reputation for reliable
dealing.
In 1869, Mr. Schwilcert was married, in Detroit,
Michigan, to Miss Laura Miller of that city, a
daughter of Antoine Miller, now deceased. They
had five children, two sons now living: Charles
0., who is in business with his father under the
firm style of F. Schwikert & Son; and William,
who is with Abner Adams, dealer in hardwood
floors.
For twelve 3'ears Mr. Schwikert was captain of
the Rochester Schutzenguilder, acting in that ca-
pacity until it was disbanded. He is now a mem-
ber of the Columbia Rifle Club and for twenty-
five years has been connected with the United
Workmen, while of Germania lodge, A. F. & A. M.,
he is also a member. His political views are in
accord with the principles of democracy, and he
is a communicant of St. Joseph's Catholic church.
He does not consider himself bound by party ties
in politics, however. It is one of the hopeful signs
of the period that the business men of enterprise
and merit are keeping well informed on the ques-
tions and issues of the day and are more and more
recognizing the fact that in municipal affairs
politics should not enter largely, but that the ques-
ton for consideration should be the capability and
efficiency of the candidate for the control of the
city's business. Mr. Schwikert has sincere affec-
tion for the land of his adoption, being thoroughly
in sympathy with its free institutions and repub-
lican form of government. He is a very active
man and one who owes his success entirely to his
own efforts. Obstacles and difficulties have not
been allowed to bar his path if they could be
overcome by determined and earnest effort and his
business career is one which illustrates the power
of industry and perseverance in the active affairs
of life. Every step that he has made has been
premeditated and then sanctioned by mature judg-
ment, contributing its share to the sum totial of
prosperity which has attended his efforts as a
manufacturer.
and this:
